“Get to from the pharmacy” message from GP

Maybe that poster means ‘a specific manufacturer’.

A lot of people on Levothyroxine for example can’t tolerate Teva but can tolerate Accord, because of the excipients (added ingredients). None are ‘branded’ in the strict sense, but are profit-making brands.

Yes, interested in this. There was a thread yesterday about how to save the NHS and why it's on its knees.

Easiest way to get it prescribed if they push back is to say the chemist wouldnt sell it to me because of my health conditions/ current medications.

That’s a good point, @Isekaied. Some of us ‘age out’ of pharmacy/OTC care for a lot of conditions once we hit 60. And/or there are contraindications, side effects or concerns that need GP monitoring.

Why do you need the branded one?

I need an otc brand name antihistamine. My gp prescribes it which makes it half price

I also have a chronic illness and get macrogol on prescription. I used it for about 2 years, then no longer needed it for a year or two, and had to restart it about 4 or 5 months ago

My point was that there are other ways of managing constipation which many people find safe and effective, and which are also beneficial for health. I have to pay for my prescriptions so if there is a way for me to avoid paying for another then I'll take it.

Yanbu @itsgettingweird especially since they'd already prescribed it to you previously.
My yd gets paracetamol prescribed as we mentioned how difficult it was for me to be able to buy enough for her to take 4 times a day, plus be able to buy medication for the rest of the household for various aches and pains. It has saved me a lot of hassle having to make sure I went to the shop daily.

Her medication can be bought over the counter. But she's asking why she should have to if she has a long term condition and it's working for her.

I think its different in different areas.

GPs dont really care about prescribing. It's the local health board and if the medication is on a list of meds to be bought OTC the GP sugery is heavily penalised and lose money from their budget- this means depending on how much stuff they've prescribed that they have been told not- it can affect their staffing levels etc.

Locally i wouldnt have issues prescribing that medication but have had loads of push back from patients being told they need tp buy their antihistamines/ emmolients/ ibuprofen gels/ lubricating eye drops OTC.

Easiest way to get it prescribed if they push back is to say the chemist wouldnt sell it to me because of my health conditions/ current medications.

It does add up. Have you tried any other ways of managing the constipation?

I think either everything should be free, or there needs to be a real discussion about a partly private system. For your situation OP, if you're struggling with costs, do whatever you need to do if you're entitled to it.
A friend had to go for a tooth extraction over a crown due to cost (she said it was about £80 versus £300) while another person got all their dentistry free.
Similar situations can arise with prescriptions.
In Scotland, I'm sure it was all free? Happy to be corrected.

Why, when OP has a pre payment certificate? OP has paid for prescriptions presumably to cover cost of things like this

OP is fully aware of this. In her situation it is not the case.

Often the OTC cost is less than a prescription cost. Same reason doctors tell people to buy paracetamol rather than getting it on prescription

Thank you for saying this

The amount of medication I’ve been prescribed and then been told to ‘just buy over the counter’ is voluminous.

Apparently there are OTC meds for severe arthritis, chronic synovitis, psoriasis, infected flexural skin, IBD, uveitis, pernicious anemia … who knew? Apparently some Aveeno and syrup of figs will sort out the lot. Oh, and not eating cheese

OP, your plan sounds good. You just have to persevere and keep asking!

Have you read and understood OP’s situation?

Your GP isn’t wrong, you can get many remedies for constipation from the pharmacy without a prescription (also the supermarket has a few options on the shelf). You should only need to see a GP for constipation when you have tried everything the Pharmacist can offer and they don’t work or you can’t have them due to allergies or other medication. You are taking a GP appointment that could go to someone else that has no other option but to see a GP.

Is your issue that you have to pay in the Pharmacy?

Yep, plus lots of fibre. I'm on medication that would make me chronically constipated (very uncomfortable) so I have to eat a load of fibre and drinks loads of water. Also, it's very healthy in general so a win-win!

I think it is fair to ask. Just say you are happy to buy it for occasional use, but as your upped medication is causing permanent side-effects, would it be possible to have this on prescription?

They might say no, but it's worth a try.

FWIW, strong coffee and Vitamin D spray are good laxatives. And eating little at night but drinking at least 2l of water by day.

That seems harsh. I'm prescribed laxatives alongside opiates. It should be standard surely?

I guess it's a postcode lottery if your area are stopping funding for prescriptions of things that you can get OTC? If you pay for your script it's true it could be cheaper to buy it.

You should contact practice manager. You only need them because of the other medicine you're prescribed. So it feels like it's their responsibility to give you them? But that's only if you're on a free script. Else it could actually save money.

Thinking outside the box. Fybogel can be bought at the pharmacy but may be easier and cheaper for you to eat flax and chia seeds as these work the same by drawing water into the bowel. Magnesium is also quite a good laxative if you use magnesium citrate. Again, very cheap.